Ancient History and Classical Archaeology Admissions Test (AHCAAT) Guide

Ancient History and Classical Archaeology Admissions Test (AHCAAT) Guide

Everything you should know before taking the AHCAAT and how to be successful!

WHAT IS THE AHCAAT?

The AHCAAT (Ancient History and Classical Archaeology Admissions Test) is a pre-registered admissions test used by the Classics Department at Oxford University as part of the admissions process for the undergraduate Classical Archaeology and Ancient History (CAAH, for short) degree course.

The AHCAAT is a skills-based admissions test. According to Oxford University, it is designed to measure applicants’ abilities in engaging and criticising academic arguments, on the one hand, and analysing material evidence from the ancient world, on the other.

WHO NEEDS TO SIT THE AHCAAT?

Applicants to Oxford’s Classical Archaeology and Ancient History (CAAH) course must sit the AHCAAT in support of their application.

HOW IS THE AHCAAT  STRUCTURED?

The AHCAAT is a 90-minute written exam, held online, in which applicants are asked to complete two long-response questions.

The first question is based on a short passage taken from an academic publication taken from or similar to texts studied in the first two terms of the CAAH course. In the form of an essay response, applicants are asked to evaluate the argument made in the extract. They should outline how convincing the argument is, discuss whether the claims made are supported by the evidence supplied by the author, and propose any counterclaims or criticisms that can be levelled at the author’s arguments.

The second question is based on an image of an artefact from the ancient world, alongside a brief explanation of the artefact’s historical context. Applicants are asked, again in the form of an essay response, to describe the artefact in detail before discussing the manners in which the object is useful to the study of ancient history.

Both questions are marked equally (50 marks per question).

CAN I CHOOSE WHICH QUESTIONS I ANSWER IN THE AHCAAT?

Applicants will not be able to choose which questions they respond to as part of the test.

HOW IS MY SCORE IN THE AHCAAT USED?

As with other admissions tests, the responses given in the AHCAAT (and their scores) will be used to provide admissions tutors additional information about the applicant to help them make their final decision on shortlisting.

Because the AHCAAT is a new test for the 2024 application cycle, its first two years (October 2024 and October 2025) constitute a pilot phase. This means that, whilst the test will be used to give additional information on the applicant, no candidate applying in 2024 or 2025 will be deselected for interview or denied an offer on the basis of their AHCAAT results.

WHAT IS A GOOD AHCAAT SCORE?

The maximum marks an applicant can receive in the AHCAAT is 100 (50 per question). Since this is a new test for the 2024 application cycle, and still in its pilot phase, we do not have a barometer against which to measure test results.

What we can say, however, is that Oxford rarely work with a pass/fail mark on their admissions tests. In other words, there is no specific number that, taken alone, will entirely make or break an application. Every element of the application is taken in context with the other elements.

DO I NEED TO KNOW SPECIFIC CONTENT FOR THE AHCAAT?

The AHCAAT is a test of skills, such as analysis, argument-construction, and critical thinking. It is not a test of any historical period, classical works, or secondary literature in particular. Any extract or image you are given in the test itself will be contextualised sufficiently to give you pointers and help direct your analysis, so don’t worry about revising your ancient historical regions and periods.

We recommend exposing yourself to a range of content from different sources, regions, and periods to prepare yourself for the various styles that may appear in the test itself. Just because you do not need to have any particular knowledge, it doesn’t help to familiarise yourself with a broad range of academic content to get a headstart!

How to register for the AHCAAT

WHEN IS THE AHCAAT IN 2024?

The test date for the AHCAAT in 2024 is the 22^nd October. All applicants must sit the test on this exact day. This may be during half term, but with plenty of advanced notice this hopefully shouldn’t prevent your school or college from holding the test. Be aware that if you miss this date for whatever reason you will not be able to take the test on another day and your application will not be considered.

WHEN IS THE DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION?

The AHCAAT, like many Oxford Admissions Tests, requires applicants to register in advance of sitting the test. 2024 applicants will have to register between the 15^th August and the 4^th October 2024 to be able to sit the test.

Candidates can register for themselves via the online registration portal. We recommend reading the Oxford University AHCAAT page for more details on how to register; the university will be releasing further information in due course. Once registered, applicants will then be able to book their place at a Pearson VUE test centre. We recommend booking as soon as possible so that you can secure a place at the most convenient test centre for you.

Once registered, make sure that you have received an email stating your test centre location, and the date, time, and duration of the test. Make sure that this is done well in advance of the deadline. If you have extenuating circumstances (i.e. a situation beyond your control) that prevented you from registering on time, get in touch with the Oxford college you applied to immediately and alert them of your situation.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO TAKE THE AHCAAT?

Oxford University and Pearson VUE do not charge applicants a registration fee. However, independent test centres do sometimes charge an administration fee for candidates to cover costs such as room hire and invigilation. Get in touch with your chosen test centre to clarify if this cost will apply to you.

How to Pass the AHCAAT?

The best advice we can offer to succeed the AHCAAT exam is to begin exam preparation early and practise often.

Most students who don’t make it through the interview stages and feel their admissions test results let them down tell us that they didn’t spend enough time practising with unseen materials and working to the specific timings and requirements of the test paper.

START EARLY

Although the AHCAAT results will not be enough to break your application if applying in the next two years, early preparation will help you shine and impress admissions tutors. Additionally, the skills you practise here are useful for your interview, and beyond into your exams and future studies, so the impact of thorough preparation cannot be underestimated!

Since no specific subject knowledge is required for the AHCAAT, challenge yourself to begin working through the Oxford sample test and familiarising yourself with the style of questions as soon as possible. Starting early gives you longer to find your own sources and fuel your practice.

REFLECTION

Rather than powering on blindly through mock questions, take the time throughout your preparation to reflect on your performance so far and specific areas in which you can improve. Perhaps leave a little time between producing an essay and re-reading it; forgetting the specifics of your initial argument can give you some objectivity in revisiting and evaluating your previous performance.

Additionally, if a teacher, parent, or other trusted individual has spare time to read through your answers and give you some comments, this can be a great way to gain objective advice on your performance. To get expert advice and structured guidance from your mock tests, as well as bespoke AHCAAT tuition, check out our admissions test packages.

No two students should have the same revision strategy for the AHCAAT, since you all have varying abilities, so try to think about your own strengths and weaknesses so that you’re maximising your preparation time and focusing on the most important aspects.

DON'T RESTRICT YOUR PRACTICE MATERIALS

Don’t restrict your practice materials: Once you have tried the sample test provided by Oxford University and exhausted relevant materials from your school lessons, you should then look wider for similar materials and sources. For example, take a look at unseen text questions for other A-level exam boards or other exam systems, such as the IB. Additionally, check out the Oxford Classics and History departments for first-year reading lists for inspiration on written sources. Even beyond these, you could visit an interesting exhibition and take photos home to analyse, or pause documentaries to think about the artefacts discussed.

All of the above avenues could offer you a wider array of practice material and help train your flexibility to unseen materials.